- Title: ZAMBIA: OIL DEPOT BLAZE AT KITWE - TROOPS CALLED OUT.
- Date: 2nd November 1966
- Summary: DEPOT BLAZE; AFTERMATH - BURNT OUT DRUMS; TWISTED RAIL TRACK; TROOPS ON GUARD; Initials JRG/VS/JH/MM Script is copyright Reuters Limited. All rights reserved
- Embargoed: 17th November 1966 12:00
- Keywords:
- Location: KITWE, ZAMBIA
- Country: Zambia
- Reuters ID: LVABQJYNYQIZPCM4K2YNX6WGK6O3
- Story Text: THE OIL DEPOT AT KITWE IN ZAMBIA SPARKED OFF RACE RIOTS THAT LED TO THE DEATH OF A 28-YEAR-OLD MOTHER OF TWO CHILDREN ON SUNDAY.
THE WOMAN, MRS. BRIDGET MYBURGH, WAS STONED IN THE RIOTS WHEN RUMOURS WERE RIFE THAT THE DEPOT FIRE WAS A PIECE OF SABOTAGE BY WHITE PEOPLE. MANY OF ZAMBIA'S 700,000 WHITES ARE FROM RHODESIA AND SOUTH AFRICA.
HOWEVER AN OIL COMPANY SPOKESMAN SAID THE BLAZE APPEARED TO HAVE BEEN CAUSED BY AN ACCIDENT. POLICE ENQUIRIES SUPPORTED HIS VIEW.
MRS MYBURGH WAS THE SECOND WHITE WOMAN TO HAVE DIED IN A RIOT IN ZAMBIA. POLICE OFFERED A REWARD OF GBP250 FOR INFORMATION ABOUT HER ASSAILANT. AND ON TELEVISION, THE VICE-PRESIDENT MR. REUBEN KAMANGA CONDEMNED HER DEATH AS A BLOW AGAINST THE COUNTRY'S POLICY OF NON-RACIALISM.
NEARLY 300,000 GALLONS OF PETROL AND DIESEL OIL-ABOUT ENOUGH TO MEET THE COUNTRY'S RATION QUOTA FOR A WEEK - WERE LOST IN THE BLAZE. THE FIRE BEGAN AFTER AN EXPLOSION IN THE MAIN FUEL STORAGE AREA. THREE BULK STORAGE TANKS, HUNDREDS OF DRUMS OF FUEL AND THREE TANKER LORRIES WENT UP IN FLAMES.
AS A PILLAR OF SMOKE ROSE SEVERAL HUNDRED FEET, LARGE CROWDS - AROUND 20,000 STRONG - GATHERED NEARBY. SOON THE MOOD TURNED HOSTILE WITH ACCUSATIONS OF EUROPEAN SABOTAGE.
BECAUSE OF THE RACIALLY TENSE SITUATION, TROOPS WERE ORDERED TO WATCH STRATEGIC INSTALLATIONS. THEY WERE OUT IN FORCE IN CITIES AND TOWNS IN THE COPPERBELT, THE MAINSTAY OF ZAMBIA'S ECONOMY.
THERE HAVE BEEN SIX MYSTERY EXPLOSIONS IN ZAMBIA IN RECENT MONTHS, INCLUDING BLASTS AT LUSAKA, OIL DUMP AND IN THE MAIN POST OFFICE.
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